Methods and materials for using Ruminococcus gnavus or Clostridium sporogenes to treat gastrointestinal disorders

Abstract

This document provides materials and methods related to bacterial compositions containing at least one bacterial organism having tryptophan decarboxylase activity. For example, bacterial compositions containing at least one bacterial organism having tryptophan decarboxylase activity and methods for using such bacterial compositions to improve gastrointestinal epithelial function and/or to treat gastrointestinal disorders are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating a gastrointestinal disorder in a human, said method comprising administering a composition comprising at least one live bacterial organism having exogenous tryptophan decarboxylase activity to said human under conditions wherein gastrointestinal function of said human is improved, wherein said at least one bacterial organism comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having tryptophan decarboxylase activity. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said gastrointestinal disorder is irritable bowel syndrome. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bacterial organism comprising exogenous tryptophan decarboxylase activity is  Escherichia coli  or  Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.    
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is a pill, tablet, or capsule. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein said pill, tablet, or capsule is configured to deliver said at least one bacterial organism to the intestines of said human. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises no more than one bacterial species, and wherein said bacterial organism is a member of said one bacterial species. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method comprises identifying said human as having said gastrointestinal disorder prior to said administration. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said exogenous nucleic acid encodes a tryptophan decarboxylase derived from  Ruminococcus gnavus.    
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said exogenous nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence set forth in GenBank® Accession No. ZP_02040762. 
     
     
       10. A composition comprising at least one bacterial organism comprising exogenous tryptophan decarboxylase activity, wherein said at least one bacterial organism comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having tryptophan decarboxylase activity. 
     
     
       11. The composition of  claim 10 , wherein said exogenous nucleic acid encodes a tryptophan decarboxylase derived from  Ruminococcus gnavus.    
     
     
       12. The composition of  claim 10 , wherein said exogenous nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence set forth in GenBank® Accession No. ZP_02040762. 
     
     
       13. The composition of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one bacterial organism is  Escherichia coli  or  Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.    
     
     
       14. The composition of  claim 10 , wherein said composition is a pill, tablet, or capsule. 
     
     
       15. The composition of  claim 10 , wherein composition further comprises a second bacterial organism comprising endogenous tryptophan decarboxylase activity, wherein said second bacterial organism is  Ruminococcus gnavus  or  Clostridium sporogenes.